Court dismisses appeal for scene visit in Presidential Jet case

By Hannock Kasama

The Lusaka Magistrates Court has dismissed the defence lawyers’ application for scene visits to Zambia Airforce facilities in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone, pertaining to former Defence Permanent Secretary STARDY MWALE’s Presidential Jet corruption case.

The verdict has been delivered by Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate DAVIES CHIBWILI.

Magistrate CHIBWILI has ruled that former Ministry of Defence Director of Procurement CHARLES LUNGU, currently testifying in the matter, is not a competent witness to identify materials imported together with the contentious Presidential Jet at the scene.

Meanwhile Mr. LUNGU has testified that he was at pains to sign the invoices for the procurement of the Presidential Gulf Stream as he was not privy to the contents of the contract.

Mr. LUNGU however conceded that the move to procure the Gulf Stream started in July 2015, prior to the appointment of former Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary STARDY MWALE.

He also testified that the procurement of the Presidential Gulf Stream Jet was single sourced.

Mr. LUNGU was testifying before LUSAKA Chief Resident Magistrate DAVIES CHIBWILI.

This is in a matter where former Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary STARDY MWALE is charged with corruption involving 573 million dollars pertaining to the procurement of the Gulfstream G650 Presidential Jet.